Golden Bear Reservoir in Delaware County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Golden Bear Reservoir in Delaware County, Ohio. The setting is rolling hill on every side. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Delaware County. Powell sits 3.4 miles from the bank. Dublin lies 3.4 miles off, New California another 5.3 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Golden Bear Reservoir

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Across Delaware County, recorded fish include rainbow darter, black crappie, bluegill and white crappie. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Golden Bear Reservoir gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 74°F, with January the cold end at about 26°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Golden Bear Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is O'Shaughnessy Reservoir, 3.1 miles out. Confirm access to Golden Bear Reservoir locally before you travel.